Automotive test unit



E. G. Br-:EHLER AUTOMOTIVE TEST UNIT' Filed Sep'. 24

Apr.4 24, 1923.

B l ggd ,511m v o ATToRNEYs\ Apr. 24, 1923.

E. G. BEEHLER AUTOMOTIVE TEST UNIT Filed sept. 24',

1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INvENToR Gee/l/er TTORNEYS Apr. 24, 19?;3.I v

E. G. BEEHLER AUTOMOTIVE TEsT UNIT Filed sept. 24. 19m

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Apr. 24, 1923.

E. G. BEEHLER l AUTOMOTIVE TEST UNIT l Filled sym.- 24 1921 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR eez/ef:

BY m am Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

iASZQS noroifiorivn einer UNIT.

Application filed September 24, 1921. Serial No. I502,863.

'o all yiff/1.0m t may concer-n.'

'Be itknoivn thatl, ELMER G. Beni-1min, a Citizen of the United States, residing` Vet Yuma, inA the countyoi Yuma andlState ol lolorado, have y invented i new and linprove'd Automotive Test'pllnit, 'ot vwhich the 'following is af'sfpecification. d 'i "Illi'y present invention, which generally has reference 'to improvements in mechanisms or Vappariitus I desigjnetl rfor 'testing electrical equipments fo'r 'automotive vehicles, more particularly relates to that't'vpe of test unit, apparatus or ni'ea'ns ldisclosed in my copendii applicationf lSerial No. 421,537, filed `Nofemini-Ya, i920.'

In my aforesaid copending` applica-tion, is embodied a certain peculiar arrangement of parts,fso designedand cooperatively combined, l whereby article fte-beV tested may be readily clamped in universal adjustable relation to tlievdriving head, 'which head, vin itself;A isfadapte'd `for."'arljustmenu the several combinations oli elements tha-t constitute the test unit providing' for readily :and accu r'ately'testinga" i'reryjvide range of shapes and si/ies of velectrical equipment, such as before mentioned, end'I in such manner whereby to provide forsetting the article to be` tested toy itsmdesired position or adjustinentlin a minimum amount or' time.

'My present invention. which embodies broadly the salme general cha-ia-cteristics ot the test unit shown and ldescribed in my aforesaid pending' application, primarily has y'fbi' its pi'i-i'pose to simplify the construction. and to so combine and improve the 'cooperative arrangement of the parts so as to providea test unit tor-handli'ng` any class off Work that any automotive service station requires and which is especially capable oi handlingl :ill kinds o? niagjnetos, generators and starters and do the required Work in much less time than isfpossible with the construction el test/unit deecribe'd end sboivn in my Aotherapplication.mentioned, and. so far as I know, other f similar apparatus heretofore provided. si-inetberobj ect of my invention. is to provide lanE `impro-verd"test unitithat is durable and in which the life ofthe apparatus is 'greatly ,preservedz,byV its simplicity ofV eonstruction.

`?Vl7it-l1l otl1er objects in view that will be hereinafter stated, my: invention embodies the eculier construction lndftli'e. novel -arproved test unit,y viewed frointlie opposite y direction to that shown in Figure l. A n

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the test unit taken substantially .on the line 3 3 ol" Figure et.

Figure l is transverse sectionoi the vise arrangement. sh'oivn in Fiwures l. 2 and and taken substantially on the line tu-4 oi"v Figure 3.

'Figure 5 is a. detail perspective vieni ol the rise with the opposingr adjustalile clamping;

' 60 Figure lis a perspective vieiv of my imelements positioned to receive square or* bex-agen `types of generators or magnetos that Ycannot be` accommodated by4 the vise arrangement, in'Figures l andQ.

Figure G is' en inverted perspective view or` the test head base, thesliding carriage or vise holding` bese being also shown.

Fig-ure 7 is a top plan view oil, the test hea d base andthe vise carriage baise and it also illustrates the vise carriage moving rack 'and gi'ear connections.

@Figure S is a detail plan ieiv, parts beine' in section that illustrates the clamp device for holding; the vise base or carriage against slipping when adjusted toL orv'trom the test he l `f I is a detail perspective ie'clanip' r cam lever. Y'

Y l,Qjurc milar vieu' koi the sliding' rack berend the camhead 'mounted thereon.

in mv present construction ,otvtcst unit. f

the parte constituting the seid unit are `mourned on afbaseboardji to-'fivliich the test headb'a'hse member isivedlvbolted. asvsliown.

.f Ther-test header .chuck holding; ktrame '9, in mj* )resent form o fte'fst unitylias its 'shank prei idedlivith` avertical rack Hengel() that is yguided throughv ai radial ension of a .passalge'lil in' the base iet-L "ii adjusting v lll() gearlflfl `mounted on the innerA end of asliat 13 that is horizontally journalled in the base 14 transversely with respect to the rack l() engages the said rack l0, and its outer end carries a hand wheel 15, by the turning of which the headframe 9 can be readily raised and lowered, as desired. A lever controlled clamp screw 26 is mounted in the hub of the base 14 and operates to firmly lock the said frame 9 to its vertical adjustments. The chuck or test head 7, which may be of any well known type,`has its shaft 6 that journalled in ball bearings 8 8 in the frame 9 and the outer end of the shaft 6 carries a toothed Wheel 60a for receiving the transmission chain from the motor (not shown) in the manner similar to that illustrated and described in my other application mentioned.

designates a horizontal center rail that is iixedly attached to and extends forwardly from the base 14, and 16-16 indicate a pair of oppositely disposed rods that constitute the support for the vise carriage 20, presently again referred to.

A cross bar 17 is secured on the base l and it has bearing boxes 18-18 for the outer ends of the rods 8() and 16-16, as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 6.

The center rod 8O has a rack 81 that extends lengthwise thereof, with which a feed gear 8l meshes, as is best shown in Figures 4, 6 and 7, by reference to which it will be observed the said gear 8l is fixed on the inner end of a tubular shaft 82 that is journalled in an end member 2l and a cross member 22` that constitute parts of the vise carriage.

A hand wheel 88 is attached to the outer end of the shaft 82 for feeding the vise carriage along` the side rods 16-16, the cross bars 24-24 of the carriage having aperture bearings 25 for slidably guiding the carriage 20 along the side rods lr6-41.6.

A screw clamp 27 engages a screw socket in one end of one of the cross bars 24, and. it has a. turning lever 2Ta for feeding the screw clamp 27 against one of the side bars i6 (see Figure 8) after the vise carriage has been set as desired. i

In my present arrangement of parts that constitute my improved automotive test unit, the vise construction is designed to provide for a wider vrange of use than possible in the construction disclosed in my stated copending application.

My improved vise construction, the details of which will be best understood by reference to Figures 3 and 4, embodies generally the same features disclosed in my other construction, but in the present form the front clamping member 30 has its pendent portion provided with the cross shaped opening 33, the purpose of which will presently appear, and it, also has offset portions 32-82 for slidably engaging the cross'bars 24-24 of the carriage. The aforesaid pendent portion of the front cla-mp 30 is further provided with oppositely projected tenons -35 for engaging the grooves 36-36 on the inner face of t-he said bars 24-24 and as shown in the accompanying drawings, the clamping member 30 has an attached pair of inwardly extending` horizontal arms 29-29 that are spaced apart to form a suitable guide between which the adjusting rack 44 is mounted and which has a limited slidable movement in the direction of the length and also a limited vertical movement between the arms 29-29, as will be presently more fully explained.

37 designates the tension spring for normally pulling the rack to its inward 'or inoperative position, the said spring being attached to the rear one of a series of cross members 42 which constitute the guide bearings that bridge across and under the space between the bars 29 and which are attached to the said bars, each of the said guides 42 havinga bevelled or cam edge 43 for cooperating with the cam members 46 on the: underside of the rack 44, as is clearly shown in Figure 4.

The forward end of the bar 44 Jterminates in a round shank 38 which has oppositely projected lugs 47-47 which fit within the vertical portions of the opening 33 in the clamp 3() to hold Jthe rack bar 44 against rotation.

Als in the construction shown in my copending application mentioned on the round shank of the bar 44 is clamped a colla-r 4S having a cam face adapted to be engaged by a. like shaped cam face on a. clamping lever 49, the lever face 52 being interposed between the collar 48 and the clamping jaw f or member 30, as is best shown in Figure 4 of the drawing.

The lever 49 has a ange 5() for engaging a flange keeper 5i which holds the lever 49 to its operative position for securing the opposing jaws 30-31 to their work clamping adjustment.

The inner face of the lever has a recessed portion 52 corresponding to the cam surface of the opposite or outer face thereof and for receiving the lugs 47-47 on the rack when the .said rack is pulled outwardly (see the arrows on Figure 4), for holding the jaws in their clamped adjustments.

ln my present construction of vise device` the inner clamping jaw 3l has a rack section 31 on its under side for engaging with the rack bar 44 when the latter is pulled forward and is lifted under the action of the swing of the lever 49 to the right or operative position` the same as in mv other construction stated. I In the present form of my invention, the said clamping member 3l has apendent bridge bracket 37C that has a centrally disposed internally threaded aperture 37d for lll lOTi

lili) receiving the threaded Vendt 60 Qta. rod G1,

that -is adapted forbeing coupled'in any suitable manner, tothe inner end ofa shaft :GZwhichpasses through the hollow shaft 8 2, before mentioned;projects beyond the front end thereof and is provided with a turning crank 63 that traverses the outer lface of; theend wheel 83 on the shaft 82.

By reason of providing a rshaft rotatably mounted within the-,hollow lshaft "S2 and whichghas ascrewfed connection with the inner clampinglmember 3l, as shown, it will be readily;apparent that whenthe cam ad- .j usting ,locking .lever 49 lis swung toward `the left rto its inoperatiye position, that is,r when the rack bar 44is Lat thelowest adjust- .ment and disengaged fromthe rack member on V{th'ebottom efthe clamp 1&1, the operator by simply y turnnfig the crank A 63 canreadily kfeed k,the 'clamping y member 31- forwardly or -backwardly ,to slide ,along ,the carriage 4.bars `'Q4-24, to readily centerthef-.work to the test head, asnshown lin Figure. l/Vhen testing round types oit-generators lormagnetos,

' a supplemental `or sub-,base 91 is'provided, thesame-being inthe nature of aflat bottom block having al concaved stepped upper face npon .whichthe ronn'dbodiesl to ,be

Aworknediare heldlcllarnped downby a supplemental clamping device, ,as Abest shown L1n 'Figures l landi-2. '.The blockorlbase9lhas dowels- 95for engagingsockets in the top of the cross r bars 24, as shown ,.,Theuaforesaid supplemental,clamping device comprising a yvertical shaft92. whichis adapted to seat and bejheld within a yvertical socket-34 which is apart of the caml yand in which the shaft 92 is .held clamped to any of its rotatable adjustments. bya

clamping screw 93.

94 designates a clamping arm that 1s provided with an apertured head.,.97 forslid- `ably engaging thevertical shaft'vv92 to which it is clamped in any of .its vertical:shifts' by the serew clampy 98. 9.9 designatesahand Wheel controlled screw -clainp that .works zthrough `the threaded aperture in the 'douter end of ,the arm and which has a disk head fcrengaging the top of the work to .hold it ,down tightly onto the stepped subbase.

:Frein ,the .foregoingdescription, taken in Aconnection with the kaccompanying drawings, the complete construction of vmy improved automotive test un1t,lthe mannerof its-,operation and theladvarntages ofniy presentinvention will be readily ,apparenti to those familiar with `automotive service requirements.

Briefly stated, the manner of use of my present type of automotive `test unit is as follows: When it is desired to clamp the article to be tested, the said article is placed between the cam face's of the jaws 30-81 of the vise and the said jaws are slid along the` sideibars 24`24 until thearticle to be worked lis in the desired position with relation to the chuck head1 If the,article is .a vround body, 1the stepped sub-base is used y and the said `body isdirmly held down onto the. sub=base a Iproper .adjustment vof `the vertically..- and ,laterally v adjustable lclamping .,member, it'vbeing obvious that the clamping i.jaws l319-31 arefheld from movingk up or down by reasonof the tenonand groove connection withthe lbars 24-24, as shown and described.

,After the inner .jawhas been primarily lshifted along to. the clamping position, and .'it ,hasbeen foundnecessaryfto make va more acciirate shiftfthereof, the lever 49 being at or turned to the left, the furthershifting of the said jclamping ymember ,3l is vreadily "effectedturningthe crank .63 onthe end of theshafft .G2 that is mounted within the ,.hollowshaft .andwhich has ya screw connection 'withthe' saidfelamping memberBl,

vas. shown.

`-lkfter the desiredv initial adjustments kof th two ePPQSn'g '/Clamp'ng .members are made, the lever r49,is turned, Lin clockwise direction, by reason .of-the cam Aface" ofthe eauses 4the longrack barto slide forward Iand, owingtoA the camA lugs 46 k,of the rack bar engagingthe.crossgkguides 42, the-'said ijack'r bar isalsodifted into interlocked, en-

gagement rwith ,theV rack face ofthe 'clamp- .member 31,' andth'erebyfrces thefsaid `member 3l inwardly to tightly clamp ythe .article v tobe itest,e"dvbetween it andthe yoppasi ng. clamp `30 in the Adesired position, be-

.,fed up` tojlthefchuck or testing :head by I'shifting thedevice along the rod k16, which is done througha proper manipulation of ,theeh'anld wheel 83,911, the hollow 'shaft 82 that Carries.the.gear ,81,a andsnce the latehgages ythe rack, face of Ithe central Hrod 8,0 the/"carriage with the vise connections .and l,the `Work clamped thereon may :be con'- ,yeni'e'ntly, expeditiously v`'and accurately `brought up tothe test-f'head, as desired.

` .'Whatlclaimis: 7

l. "In ,ain auteinotive n equipment testing means of the character described, IJhe'com- `binationW ith a hase, 1 a. v,test 'head carrying Surrert mounted-011 the lasefrerlsmount? ase` and engaging the support ,llthe.,

.verticaladjustment of the ltest to and from the test head, the said means including a hand operable rotatable shaft having a gear engaging the rack rod.

2. In an automotive test unit of the character described, the combination with the testing head or chuck; of a Carriage, means for slidably supporting the carriage for movement to and from the test head, a pair of opposing clamping members engaging the carriage, and means for effecting the adjustment of the said membersalong the c arriage transversely with respect to the testing head, a sub-base detachably mounted on the carriage between the opposing clamping members, the said sub-base having its upper or head surface shaped for receiving round body equipment devices, and a vertically adjustable clamp supported upon and laterally movable with one of the opposing clamping members and having a portion for engaging` the top of the article being tested to hold it down onto the said vise.

3. In an automotive equipment testing means of the character stated, the combination with a testing head, a support therefor, said support having a pair of forwardly eX- tending horizontal side rods and a centrally extended rack rod; of devices for holding the equipment to be tested, the said devices including a vise carriage'composed of a pair of slide bars that slidably engage the opposite side rods in the test head support and opposite end members, a hollow shaft that extends crosswise of the said rods and is mounted on the vise carriage, the said rod having a hand wheel at one end, a cog gear attached to the rod that lengages the rack rod projected from the testing head support, for feeding the vise carriage to and from the testing head, a pair of opposing inner and outer clamping members slidably engaging and having transverse adjustment along the said bars of the carriage, the inner clamping member having a pendent portion provided with a screw aperture, and a feed screw mounted upon and movable with the carriage for engaging the said screw aperture, and a hand control located at the forward end of the carriage for effecting rotation of the said feed screw.

4;. In an automotive equipment testing means of the character stated, the combination with a testing head, a support therefor, said support having a pair of forwardly eX- tending horizontal side rods and a centrally extended rack rod; of devices for holding the equipment to be tested, the said devices including a carriage composed of a pair of slide bars that slidably engage the opposite side rods in the test head support and opposite end members, a hollow shaft that eX- tends crosswise of the said rods and journals in the end members of the carriage, the said shaft having a hand wheel at one end, a cog gear attached to the shaft that engages the rack rod projected from the testing head support, for feeding the vise carriage to and from the testing head, a pair of opposing inner and outer clamping members slidably engaging and having transverse adjustment along the side bars of the carriage, the inner clamping member having a pendent portion provided with a screw aperture, a feed screw mounted upon and movable with the carriage for engaging the said screw aperture, the said hollow cog gear equipped shaft having a hand wheel at the outer end, the said screw feed shaft being rotatably mounted within the hollow shaft and having its forward end projected beyond the hand wheel end of the hollow shaft and provided with an operating crank.

5. In an automotive testing means of the character stated, a vise for holding the equipment to be tested, the said vise com-` prising a carriage consisting of oppositely disposed side members, a pair of opposing inner and outer clamps mounted upon and having sliding movement along the said members, operative connections that hold the clamps down onto the side members, the outer clamp having a pair of inwardly eX- te-nded horizontal arms that are spaced apart, guides pendent from said arms that bridge under the space between such arms, a rack bar mounted within the space between the arms, the forward end of the said rack bar being endwise slidable through the front clamp, said bar having cam portions for engaging the aforesaid bridge guides on the aforesaid spaced arms for lifting the rack bar as it is drawn in the direction of the length, means operable in the front of the outer clamp for effecting simultaneous sliding movement of the rack bar and inward clamping movement of the outer clamp and for lifting the said rack bar, means operable at the front of the outer clamp for inwardly shifting the back clamp member, the said inner member having a rack portion on its under face adapted for engaging the slidable rack member as it is lifted up under its normal action, whereby the said inner clamp is drawn up to the work and held with the front clamp to the clamping adjustment.

IILMERy G. BEEHLER. 

